TANYA DONELLY – Lovesongs For Underdogs

5014436700828Best known as frontwoman for Belly and sometime member of Throwing Muses, this first solo outing by Tanya Donelly is everything you’d expect. Issued on 4AD records in 1997, ‘Lovesongs For Underdogs’ does not always sound like great departure from previous work with Belly; but while not greatly different, it manages to pull together the soft sounds of that band’s ‘Star’ and rockier parts of ‘King’ on one release.  In that respect, it could be viewed as Donelly’s most “complete” record.

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REAL GONE GOES OUT: Brad – Islington Academy, London 10/02/13

In an age where band’s debut albums are expected to be an instant hit or record companies drop them like a lead weight, it seems inconceivable that, at the beginning of 2013, Brad are celebrating over twenty years together.  An on-again, off-again project for Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard, Brad have always received mixed feelings from PJ fans, but those who love the band really do love them.  Perhaps more inconceivable is the fact that – despite their 1993 debut ‘Shame’ retaining a special place in the hearts of their fans – it took the band two decades to embark on their first full European tour.

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DEAD WOLF CLUB – RAR

Dead_Wolf_Club_Album_artDespite being a little rough around the edges, Dead Wolf Club’s debut album included some interesting musical ideas.  There was strong sense of a band feeling their way around, throwing out ideas in an attempt to find out which ones would stick, but for those listeners who persevered, three or four genuinely great numbers could be found within.  Looking beyond the truly awful sleeve art, their second release ‘RAR’ builds on the promise of the debut’s more focused moments, essentially leaving behind an album which shows off a band with a stronger sense of vision.

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